FredT
Guest
But I have to agree with much of what Genesis says with respect to the shops in his local area.
There are lots of shops to choose from there, and all make a VERY high percentage of their $s off of tourists. The drive time between shops is measured in single digit minutes, even at high season. The local and repeat semi-local divers that keep the boats running in the winter are often very poorly treated at high season, then they want you back when the touristas go back north after Labor Day.
I had one shop in the Destin area we dove out of regularly for over a decade. The shop sold, and the first trip out under new management the new owners lost our business. There is one well-known shop in Panama City Beach I WILL NOT patronize, even if it means staying dry after a 4.5 hour drive over there. I will "put up" with a lot from a shop, but being lied to is not among the acceptable items.
I won't walk into a shop with a chip on my shoulder, but my business is theirs to loose. Treat me fairly, give accurate information on local conditions when I call, deliver what you promise, and keep your DMs grubby fingers off my gear and we'll be back and bring buddies. Lie to me, cut a trip short because the shop employees are playing grab ass instead of dealing with business, or give me a line of BS excuses I KNOW is wrong from the get go but may fool a newbie and not only will you loose my business, but my buddies, and THEIR buddies will hear about it in a hurry.
Price of goods and services is important, but integrity means much more to me.
IF the boat's broke, I expect them to tell me it's broke when I call and that it _might_ be back up when I get there. Knowing how boats work I may take the chance to drive over and I may not, but if I find the boat broke when I get there and find out it was broke when I called and they didn't tell me I'll assure you I will NOT be driving back. Neither will anyone else I dive with, and most of their friends.
FT
There are lots of shops to choose from there, and all make a VERY high percentage of their $s off of tourists. The drive time between shops is measured in single digit minutes, even at high season. The local and repeat semi-local divers that keep the boats running in the winter are often very poorly treated at high season, then they want you back when the touristas go back north after Labor Day.
I had one shop in the Destin area we dove out of regularly for over a decade. The shop sold, and the first trip out under new management the new owners lost our business. There is one well-known shop in Panama City Beach I WILL NOT patronize, even if it means staying dry after a 4.5 hour drive over there. I will "put up" with a lot from a shop, but being lied to is not among the acceptable items.
I won't walk into a shop with a chip on my shoulder, but my business is theirs to loose. Treat me fairly, give accurate information on local conditions when I call, deliver what you promise, and keep your DMs grubby fingers off my gear and we'll be back and bring buddies. Lie to me, cut a trip short because the shop employees are playing grab ass instead of dealing with business, or give me a line of BS excuses I KNOW is wrong from the get go but may fool a newbie and not only will you loose my business, but my buddies, and THEIR buddies will hear about it in a hurry.
Price of goods and services is important, but integrity means much more to me.
IF the boat's broke, I expect them to tell me it's broke when I call and that it _might_ be back up when I get there. Knowing how boats work I may take the chance to drive over and I may not, but if I find the boat broke when I get there and find out it was broke when I called and they didn't tell me I'll assure you I will NOT be driving back. Neither will anyone else I dive with, and most of their friends.
FT